SF – IARU matters

The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) was formed in Paris in April 1925 when representatives from the UK, USA, Canada, France, New Zealand, Poland together with 21 other countries agreed to a formal organisation of national societies.

Today the IARU has members from over 160 countries with over 90 of these in the European, African and Middle Eastern region of the world. It is also recognised as an independent non-governmental organisation (NGO) by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and participates in the work of this UN agency. The IARU, like the ITU, is organised into three Regions:

Region-1: Europe, Africa, Middle East, North Asia
Region-2: Americas
Region-3: Asia-Pacific

IARU Region-1 Conference

Membership of the IARU gives the RSGB a voice at international level and allows the Society to have a leading role in the work of the organisation, ensuring a future for the amateur radio services. It exercises this influence through attendance at the IARU Region 1 General Conference, which occurs every three years. The General Conference has a number of standing committees, in which the RSGB particpates including:-

C4 – LF/MF/HF matters
C5 – VHF / UHF and Microwaves
C7 – EMC

In addition, we also have from time-to-time RSGB members taking senior positions within IARU Region 1 as well as particpating in other Working Groups – such as for Spectrum, Youth, Monitoring service etc.

There is a three year cycle for the General Conference in each region. In addition in Region-1 the two spectrum committees (C4 and C5) and EMC (C7) also meet once, roughly half-way, between the General Conferences. RSGB’s representatives normally attend and present papers at this so called ‘Interim Meeting’. In recent times this has been held in Vienna; and is a useful event to influence opinion as well as achieve urgent policy decisions on spectrum management issues. Between meetings these committees informally keep in contact through e-mail etc.

The RSGB’s Spectrum Forum leads the interface to this structure through the spectrum managers, committee chairs, etc. This enables an end-to-end process between the IARU policy making and affiliated clubs, special interest groups and RSGB committees and working groups. The Spectrum Forum terms of reference has specific entries regarding such conference preparation.

Documents: For meeting papers, minutes and UK discussion forums, please see the right hand menu.

Further Information:-